Zeleny to throw at Utah Valley
EDITOR’S NOTE This is the first of five stories featuring a local student-athlete that signed a letter of intent during a signing ceremony at Brawley Union High.
RAWLEY — Recent Brawley Union High graduate Blake has always envisioned himself playing college baseball.
The 17-year-old set his sights on achieving a NCAA Div. I offer and on Tuesday, realized his goal after signing his letter of intent to play ball at Utah Valley University.
Zeleny was one of six athletes that signed to play a college sport during the ceremony and was one of two baseball players, including teammate Alex Hernandez, who will attend Azusa Pacific University.
Zeleny, a left-handed pitcher and first baseman, was recruited for his skills on the mound and appeared on the Wolverines’ radar with help from Wildcat head coach Pedro Carranza.
Zeleny went for a visit and workout in Orem earlier this year and was extended an offer after sending film from his no-hitter against Palo Verde Valley on May 5.
“It went well,” Zeleny said of the visit. “They said they’d get back to me and they did and they asked for more film, so we sent in a video from the no-hitter and they said they were really interested in me.”
The Palo Verde game was Zeleny’s eighth win of the year and by the end of the season he finished with a record of 11-1 and tallied 101 strikeouts, giving up just 29 hits and 13 earned runs for an ERA of 1.39, earning him Imperial Valley League Pitcher of the Year honors.
“I love the competition,” said Zeleny of being on the mound.
The left-hander also had two wins in the postseason and helped Brawley to a CIF-San Diego Section Div. III title and a third consecutive Imperial Valley League title.
Upon his arrival in Utah, Zeleny will join a relatively young team that loses a total of seven players to graduation, including five pitchers from its staff.
The Wolverines’ season closed just two weeks ago following a loss to Seattle University in the Western Athletic Conference tourney.
Utah Valley finished the season with an overall record of 18-36 and a WAC record of 11-13, landing the Wolverines in the middle of the nine-team conference.
Zeleny will face a familiar opponent during conference action as New Mexico State also competes in the WAC and has former Wildcat Tristen Carranza on its roster.
“I’m looking forward to playing them and maybe pitching against them,” Zeleny said with a smile.
Zeleny said while he was very excited about his future, there were a few things he’d miss about suiting up for Brawley Union High.
“Just how much fun we had playing and the rivalry games against Imperial and Southwest,” he said.
Zeleny thanked his parents and Carranza for their roles in helping him achieve his Div. I dream.